tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81914705761271838682019-02-22T12:11:59.003+00:00Laureny Loves... UK Lifestyle BlogLaurennoreply@blogger.comBlogger657125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-73523732531745309902019-02-21T07:00:00.000+00:002019-02-22T11:49:56.904+00:00Everything you need to know about indoor cats<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IjoXBI8m69E/XGlMIsbnbtI/AAAAAAAAAx0/vVJ0ExQXx3g6Fo0u5zSFqUqZkMQ4YFrvgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to look after an indoor cat" border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="750" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IjoXBI8m69E/XGlMIsbnbtI/AAAAAAAAAx0/vVJ0ExQXx3g6Fo0u5zSFqUqZkMQ4YFrvgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0727.jpg" title="" /></a></div>You may have just got yourself a new cat and you've decided you'd rather keep your fur baby indoors or you may have rescued a cat that's always had an indoor lifestyle, either way you're going to be wondering how to keep and indoor cat happy and healthy. Well worry not, I'm here to tell you what you need to know about keeping an indoor cat. It is important to remember that having an indoor cat isn't for everyone and the advice given here will cover benefits and drawbacks to allow you to make an informed decision.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;I would not recommend keeping a cat that has previously had the opportunity to be outside as an indoor cat as it will be a very stressful situation for it to try and adapt to (unless of course there are medical reason that mean it shouldn't go outside anymore), I also wouldn't recommend an indoor cat if you don't have a lot of time to dedicate to it, they need a lot more interaction than outdoor cats but we'll cover that in more detail shortly. As a side note, I have two cats who are almost 3 years old, they are from the same litter and we've had them since they were nine weeks old, they have always been indoor cats. You can read about why I decided to keep them as indoor cats in<a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2019/02/why-i-keep-my-cats-indoors.html" target="_blank"> this blog post.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3><span style="color: #ea9999;">The benefits</span></h3></div><div style="text-align: center;">Having an indoor cat means you know they are relatively safe and will completely avoid all the dangers they would face outside which can provide peace of mind for you. If you're home a lot it means your cat will always be around which could be a big benefit for anyone living alone or anyone who gains comfort from pets for a physical or <a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/04/why-pets-are-great-for-your-mental.html" target="_blank">mental health condition.</a>&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3><span style="color: #ea9999;">Things to consider</span></h3></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you are rescuing a cat that has always lived indoors or needs to live indoors for medical reasons then please don't think it's OK for them to go outside. If you really don't want an indoor cat, don't adopt one that has to be kept indoors. Also if you're wanting an indoor cat it's probably not the best idea to adopt a cat that's spent a long time outside as adjusting to being in a house all the time will be very stressful for the cat. Indoor cats require a lot more time, love and interaction then outdoor cats do. You will be their only companion so all their socialising will be done with you, you will have to dedicate time to playing with them, interacting with them and in my opinion indoor cats aren't as independent as outdoor cats so if you don't have the time to dedicate to caring for them properly and indoor cat is definitely not for you.<br /><br />&nbsp;Another thing to consider is space, outdoor cats obviously have a lot of space to roam but indoor cats only have your house, I'm not saying you need to have a mansion if you're wanting to keep your cats indoors but you need to allow your cat as much space as possible to roam, hide, sleep etc. Our house is by no means big it's a 2 bedroom semi-detached property but there's only one room in the whole house that the cats aren't allowed in other than that they can go where they want.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Finally I'd say the other big thing to consider is the litter tray situation. Indoor cats will need access to a litter tray at all times and they're really not the most pleasant thing to have in your house, litter will get flicked around (even with an enclosed tray) and yes they do smell. You need to be prepared to clean it often and deal with the smell, there's really not a lot you can do about it but keeping it cleans and using candles and air fresheners helps. You need to seriously consider if a litter tray is something your happy about being in your house all the time.<br /><br /><h3><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Keeping your cat entertained</span></b></h3></div><div style="text-align: center;">Indoor cats will need entertaining and playing with more than outdoor cats, they aren't out chasing birds and mice, they aren't wearing there claws down on paving and fences and they aren't exploring the world around them. I think finding things your cats enjoy playing with really is a case of trial and error, we've tried so many different toys that have all been a fail but our two definitely have firm favourites now. It's good to try a range of toys to see what suits your cat best, you don't have to spend loads of money as places like The Range, B&amp;M and Quality Save all have some great toys. The most used toys we've got cost £5 (for a pop up activity tent for cats from B&amp;M) and £1 (for a crinkly lure toy from Quality Save). Scratch posts, activity towers and beds are also something you're going to need room for. We have four scratch posts, three of which are cat trees that can be slept on/in at multiple levels, we also have a teepee and then a blanket upstairs in a spot the cats like to lay if they're wanting a quiet moment.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3><span style="color: #ea9999;">Keeping your cat healthy</span></h3></div><div style="text-align: center;">Indoor cats, no matter how much you play with them will always get less exercise than an outdoor cat so it's important to keep them fit and healthy. Obviously playing with them is always a good idea for both entertainment and fitness but also don't discourage those mad zoomy moments they seem to have as it's a good way for them to expel some energy. It's also important to keep an eye on your cats weight and don't overfeed them as again they aren't moving as much so aren't burning off as many calories. Stick to rough feeding times each day, not just when you're cat decides it's time for food, also make sure there's always fresh water available. Lastly, just because you're cat is relatively immune to the dangers of the outside world doesn't mean you shouldn't keep on top of vaccination boosters and health checks, you should also definitely insure an indoor cat too. Keeping on top of vaccinations will ensure you're cats health and it's also worth noting catteries won't accept cats that don't have up to date vaccinations either.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Having an indoor cat is a big commitment, bigger than having an outdoor cat and there's lots of things to consider so I hope this guide has offered to good advice on the best why to look after your furry friend!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><b>Pin this:</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eq7LXIkW6oc/XGlPWj702nI/AAAAAAAAAyA/xdb6_oZEH6sBgI6UT4F6wPz2k0WoNj9-QCLcBGAs/s1600/everything%2Byou%2Bneed%2Bto%2Bknow%2Babout%2Bindoor%2Bcats.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eq7LXIkW6oc/XGlPWj702nI/AAAAAAAAAyA/xdb6_oZEH6sBgI6UT4F6wPz2k0WoNj9-QCLcBGAs/s640/everything%2Byou%2Bneed%2Bto%2Bknow%2Babout%2Bindoor%2Bcats.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-15587397544176318432019-02-19T07:00:00.000+00:002019-02-19T07:00:01.526+00:00My 5 most viewed and my favourite posts of 2018<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JZ0sgsjrJJI/XGhWdqjYPiI/AAAAAAAAAxg/RhBh-9LzBeAnnltWTCuF78V7WtN_NXCqACLcBGAs/s1600/blog%2Breview%2B2018%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1600" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JZ0sgsjrJJI/XGhWdqjYPiI/AAAAAAAAAxg/RhBh-9LzBeAnnltWTCuF78V7WtN_NXCqACLcBGAs/s1600/blog%2Breview%2B2018%2B4.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I've seen a few posts like this around where people compare their most viewed posts to their favourite posts to write in a certain time frame. I've decided to go for the whole of 2018, one because I think it's interesting to see what posts got the most views compared to ones I enjoyed writing the most as it's great to have a balance of content that gets good views and content that I love writing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3><span style="color: #ea9999;">My 5 most viewed posts</span></h3></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've started the list with the post that got the least views of the 5 most popular posts. I'll be honest this list has come as a bit of a surprise to me. I know a couple of the posts in this list got shared quite a bit by other people which is why they did so well but I don't really have an explanation for why the others did so well. The post in the number 1 spot is definitely a shock!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/02/primark-holiday-clothing-haul-part-1.html" target="_blank"><b>5. Primark holiday clothing haul</b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I posted this quite early on in the year when I bought loads of new clothes for our Florida hoiday. I guess Primark hauls are pretty popular which is why this post did so good.<br /><b><a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/04/the-book-shelves-harry-potter-part-2.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/04/the-book-shelves-harry-potter-part-2.html" target="_blank">4. Harry Potter Part 2</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was a look at the fiction books in my Harry Potter collection. I had to split my collection across two posts as I have so many books. As you can see from this list, the first part of this post did extremely well which explains why the second part did well too. I never expected these posts to be so popular though!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/07/paul-mccartney-live-at-cavern.html" target="_blank">3. Paul McCartney Live at the Cavern</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">This post got shared and viewed quite a lot by the Paul McCartney fan base plus it was a very exclusive gig which is why this post ended up being so popular.<br /><b><a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/10/book-review-house-beneath-oak-trees.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/10/book-review-house-beneath-oak-trees.html" target="_blank">2. House Beneath the Oak Trees</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Again this is another post that was shared quite a bit. The author featured my review quite a bit on her Instagram so views for this post just shot up. This is easily my best performing book review of all time.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/02/the-book-shelves-harry-potter-part-1.html" target="_blank">1. Harry Potter Part 1</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well this did come as a surprise to me. I've no idea why this post ended up being so popular, it did gain a bit of interest on Pinterest which definitely helped but I've had pins that have performed better than this one and still don't have the number of views that this post has.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h3><span style="color: #ea9999;">My 5 favourite posts to write</span></h3></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was a hard list to write because I'll be honest there was way more than 5 posts I could have picked but I've managed to narrow it down. Again I've tried to do it from least favourite to most favourite but that's pretty difficult when they're the 5 posts you love the most!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/03/our-everyday-money-saving-basics.html" target="_blank">5. Our everyday money saving basics</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I always love writing money saving posts, they're something I've done for a long time and sharing the basics of how we save money was a really good post to write, if my money saving posts help or inspire just one person then I'm happy!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/11/5-things-youre-not-obliged-to-do-at.html" target="_blank">4. 5 things you're not obliged to do at Christmas</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was a topic that played on my mind as the festive season started creeping in. There's a lot of pressure to do what's deemed as right and normal especially at Christmas but should you conform at the expense of your own happiness? Definitely not. This is one of my favourite posts I've ever wrote.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/04/why-pets-are-great-for-your-mental.html" target="_blank">3. Why pets are great for your mental health</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pets and mental health. Two topics I could talk about forever, so I combined the two! I'm a great believer in the power of animals for mental health and I know from my own experiences that they've done wonders for me. I really hope that people find this post helpful.<br /><b><a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/11/why-disney-shouldnt-replace-photopass.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/11/why-disney-shouldnt-replace-photopass.html" target="_blank">2. Why Disney shouldn't replace PhotoPass photographers</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was a topic I was super passionate about when the news broke that Disney was replacing some PhotoPass photographers with machines. I think my passion and feelings come across really well in this post and I really enjoyed writing it.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/12/our-engagement-story.html" target="_blank">1. Our engagement story</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've picked this for the number 1 spot because it's a post I never ever thought I'd write. When I wrote it I was still very much in the engagement bubble and I hope I've managed to capture my feelings and the memories for a long time to come. Also I really like the engagement photos we took for this post.<br /><br />So there we have it, my 5 most popular posts of 2018 and the 5 I enjoyed writing the most. I think this was really interesting to write. I'd definitely like to do some more Harry Potter posts as there's so much of my book collection I could talk about. I'd really like to write more about topics such as pets, mental health and happiness too so we'll see what happens in 2019!<br /><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-81849201090177999762019-02-18T07:00:00.000+00:002019-02-18T07:00:03.468+00:00Florida 2018 Day 10: Universal and Volcano Bay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRk6vakuXx4/XC4wnNRmmrI/AAAAAAAAAn4/3-RDAxJZhkc9IhTJQDAI9DP0Vijfxh_ZQCLcBGAs/s1600/11-06-2018%2B-%2BUniversal%2BStudios%2Band%2BVolcano%2BBay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRk6vakuXx4/XC4wnNRmmrI/AAAAAAAAAn4/3-RDAxJZhkc9IhTJQDAI9DP0Vijfxh_ZQCLcBGAs/s1600/11-06-2018%2B-%2BUniversal%2BStudios%2Band%2BVolcano%2BBay.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Welcome to our Florida 2018 vlog series. This trip is the whole reason we started vlogging, so we're so excited to share this content with you. We absolutely love Disney and had the best trip ever so we hope you all enjoy the vlogs!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In this vlog we enjoy a very quiet Universal Resort, we spend some time in both parks before hopping on a bus to Volcano Bay to experience the park at night, no video could ever do it justice because it was so beautiful. We hope you enjoy our Universal vlog.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/elcWGWcbQEs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/elcWGWcbQEs?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><b>Pin this:</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0UgsUG98J1g/XGfhEeS7s7I/AAAAAAAAAw4/ch5DkzjDYKs2q7fH8zWWO3yqwRa0fHgQgCLcBGAs/s1600/Florida%2BDay%2B10%2B%2B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0UgsUG98J1g/XGfhEeS7s7I/AAAAAAAAAw4/ch5DkzjDYKs2q7fH8zWWO3yqwRa0fHgQgCLcBGAs/s640/Florida%2BDay%2B10%2B%2B.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-53019538178025368352019-02-15T07:00:00.000+00:002019-02-15T07:00:14.677+00:00A Tale of Two Kitties by Nick Harding<span style="font-size: x-small;">This book was sent to me by Mirror Books for review.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LBUCmaetg8k/XF7Kcjpx2aI/AAAAAAAAAwo/DaEDtI8UKrANE3jjfuEFITf3YpUPBw-bwCLcBGAs/s1600/tale%2Bof%2Btwo%2Bkitties.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A tale of two kitties book review" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="323" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LBUCmaetg8k/XF7Kcjpx2aI/AAAAAAAAAwo/DaEDtI8UKrANE3jjfuEFITf3YpUPBw-bwCLcBGAs/s640/tale%2Bof%2Btwo%2Bkitties.jpg" title="" width="412" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">They say in life you're either a cat person or a dog person...</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">Nick Harding was neither (although, if he had to pick a side, he would have chosen the canines, on account of his cat allergies). Then he fell in love with a mad cat lady who forced exuberant kitten Alvin on him, and the adventure began.&nbsp;</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">A Tale of Two Kitties is the story of Nick's unlikely trajectory from cat hater to reluctant cat owner and finally to cat lover, via a global investigation of the weirdly fascinating domestic cat world. Nick embarks on a journey of discovery on which he investigates how cats came to rule over us.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">The story surfs the kitty zeitgeist and takes the reader on a global odyssey through cat history and the modern-day cult of the kitty. From hipsters using cats to take over the internet, to the richest cat in the world, Nick's personal cat journey explains how felines have risen to replace dogs as man's best friend. It's full of fascinating insights about cat behaviour, cat history and cat evolution.&nbsp;</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">Nick lives and breathes cats, all in an effort to understand the true essence of his own badly behaved moggies. It's a memoir, an escapade, an anthology and a social, natural and cultural history that takes the reader on a romp through our cat planet.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As a cat lover, I jumped at the chance to review this book. Though I don't make a habit of reading books about cats I have previously enjoyed non-fiction books about moggies and we all know how much I love my own fur babies for it seemed a perfect fit. Let me start by saying this book is definitely for a serious cat person. Not only does it cover Nick's journey into becoming a cat lover and anecdotes about his own cats, it cover a lot of history of cats as pets, pedigree breed and a look at why cats have become so popular. I found it throughly interesting and I definitely learnt a lot about cats but I am a serious cat lover which is probably why I enjoyed it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll be honest I did find the book a little slow going to begin with but I really enjoyed the tales of Alvin and Barry, which were told with humour. I'll all seriousness though, unless you're series about feline's this book won't be for you, I personally think it's too in depth for a casual cat person. It could have probably benefitted from being a little more light hearted but I appreciate that the author was trying to add a bit of history and factual information to the book too, probably because the author is also a journalist.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rating: ★★★☆☆</div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: molengo; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8828588566531470143" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 2; position: relative; text-align: justify; width: 684px;"><div style="clear: both;"></div></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-41586266579699340632019-02-14T16:19:00.000+00:002019-02-17T12:50:01.779+00:005 ways to have the best self-care day ever | AD<div><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a contributed post that may contain affiliate links.</span><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mQOXEAujK28O1F8LFR_0aGb8cAPSDtSH_h0iOmWD9IJrGs83UDnY4F42miokC3GtBs7beydmgKcL6OTHxjoEgdbP2wDYSxGvC4BWGmBSOyfAtFKGQTIGZTNYNw74iuaMz0VUe3JZ" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-papaya-fruit-on-bed-1030870/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image credit</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes, self-care is just one of those things that gets pushed to the back of your list of priorities. After all, most of us are just too busy to take any time out for ourselves, and when the weekend comes around, we want to make the most of it. Why sit in all day and relax, then, if we could just go out and enjoy ourselves? However, you need to take a little bit of time out sometimes, no matter whether you’re really busy, or you’re a little bit more laidback.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is nothing more important than looking after your mind (and your body) so follow these simple tips if you want to have the best self-care day ever. We promise it includes chocolate, lie-ins, and a whole bunch of stuff that we know you want to do.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Let yourself sleep in</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;">More often than not, you go to work on a Monday still feeling absolutely exhausted. You’ve been catching up with friends and family members left, right and centre, and you just don’t feel like you’ve had a minute to stop at all. However, you need to let your body recover from the stresses of the week, and it’s a good idea to let yourself have a lie in - even for a little while - on one of the weekend’s mornings. Sure, get up early on Saturday, go and see all of the things that you want to see, but devote Sunday morning to relaxation and reading <a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2019/02/4-cheap-and-easy-ways-to-update-bedroom.html" target="_blank">in bed</a>. You’ll feel revitalised, and ready for the new week ahead!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Start a new series</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;">Well, we had to come to this at some point, didn’t we? The lazy day is characterised by that loading screen we’re all so familiar with… Netflix. We’re all just really waiting for that question: ‘are you still watching?’ to remind ourselves that this is the self-care day from heaven. Whichever platform you choose for watching a new series, there is nothing better than losing yourself in a TV programme, and there are plenty of choices out there. From <a href="https://www.ukairdates.com/tv-show/the-orville/" rel="" target="_blank">The Orville</a> to Peaky Blinders, there are loads of series out there worth escaping into, so get your best comfy clothes on, and some popcorn, too…</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Do your beauty tasks</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;">OK, hear us out on this one. You know those things that you have to do - like waxing off your moustache, ahem, and moisturising your entire body - but you don’t really have the effort to do them during the week? Now’s the time to get those things under control, and go into Monday feeling like an absolute goddess. From <a href="https://www.elle.com/uk/beauty/skin/articles/a38190/homemade-diy-face-mask-recipes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">making your own facemask</a> out of some great natural ingredients, to doing that thing where you leave your conditioner on for a really long time, the self-care day is a perfect time to get your beauty tasks done, so that you feel brand new and ready to take on the world.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/RMfRyKjsCLMCptPy0exSHc8E8-QymcxC3wDVKQii-YYRaiv2TC-EgfFHU_KE5yv3bKOMATdKFvoWTa6wQUxihXoTyf9tQ-gGMphbs3ilFtu1S8RwSwoPpPQv0rWmDTtV92U-UA7P" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/applying-body-lotion-care-cosmetic-product-286951/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image credit</span></a></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Eat whatever you like</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;">A self-care day wouldn’t be a self-care day if you didn’t treat yourself to your favourite food. Sure, you’ve been sticking to your healthy regime in the week, so why not let yourself have what you like for a change? Of course, it’s best not to absolutely overdo it here - as you may just fall asleep halfway through The Orville - but nevertheless, a little treat never hurt anybody, did it? On self-care days, we’re banning any mention of calories, or carbs, or anything that may allude to the fact that treating yourself is a bad thing. Now, where did we put that chocolate orange, does anybody know?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Bake a cake</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;">We’ve definitely saved the best idea until last here, and there is nothing that will cheer you up quite like making a cake. Whilst this looks extremely difficult for those who aren’t exactly Bake Off material, it’s actually a lot easier than you think, and there are a lot of <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/easy-cake" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">easy recipes</a> out there for the first time cake-makers amongst us. Not only is this really therapeutic (we recommend putting on some uplifting girl power music, too) but you also get to eat the fruits of your labour, which is obviously the best part. If you want to get self-care right, bake yourself a cake, and, well, eat it. Yum.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, if you want to have the best self-care day ever, try out these simple tips. From letting yourself sleep in, to eating whatever you want to eat, there are so many ways to treat yourself, and get ready for the week ahead. Look after yourself, and don’t be afraid to indulge every once in a while! You deserve it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-19772302030515529542019-02-14T07:00:00.000+00:002019-02-14T07:00:00.441+00:00This is for you<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IXgv2OLurLs/XFm9p0cTC8I/AAAAAAAAAv4/nJJ0QMC6d0chtaO33yN8kuag5Zm3ACyYQCLcBGAs/s1600/ACS_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IXgv2OLurLs/XFm9p0cTC8I/AAAAAAAAAv4/nJJ0QMC6d0chtaO33yN8kuag5Zm3ACyYQCLcBGAs/s1600/ACS_0201.JPG" /></a></div>This is for you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For being by my side for the last 11 years no matter what. My partner in crime, my soulmate, my Disney buddy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A day doesn't go by where you don't make me laugh and I continually thank my lucky stars that I found someone with an equally dark sense of humour.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm still in awe with the way you can turn your hand to pretty much anything, how you're not afraid to give it a go. The way you can sit and play piano and guitar with such ease and learn a song just by listening to it. The way you transform a piece of blank paper into a detailed piece of art. And your excellent writing will always have me pushing you to use your talents. I'll always be proud of what you create. You inspire me on a daily basis, you always have.<br /><br />I'm forever grateful that I met you so early on in life which has allowed me to share growing up with you, going from a teenager to an adult. The memories we've made so far amaze me and get me excited for all the ones yet to come. I'm excited for our next chapter as newly weds but in the mean time I'm going to just enjoy being engaged, because no I'm still not over the fact you proposed!<br /><br />Being by your side makes me feel content and happy and I knew from the moment I met you that I wanted to build a life with you. To share a home and a little fur family with you, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have those things! You're my complete opposite but it works, you teach me to chill out but I spur you on when it's needed. Your calm and collected whilst I'm fiery and emotion driven and most of the time we find the happy middle ground to any situation we're in. You're creative whilst I'm academic and bookish, which makes for one hell of mixture when we're being super nerdy (which is often!). Our personalities may be completely different but I love that we enjoy all the same things, getting to share my passions with you is just the best. I love how laugh at me for having a conversation with our cats, but don't think I don't hear you doing the same thing when you go to feed them on a night!<br /><br />Basically I just want you to know that you're the best and I hope you know that I'l always be by your side no matter what. Thank you for being you, for providing me with unwavering support and love for the past 11 years.<br /><br />Love, your shorter half x<br /><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-51886326643286463762019-02-13T08:00:00.000+00:002019-02-13T08:00:09.330+00:004 cheap and easy ways to update a bedroom | AD<span style="font-size: x-small;">This post is in collaboration with latestdeals.co.uk. All opinions are my own.</span><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mbqTiDMfUZU/XF2uQmf7TUI/AAAAAAAAAwc/y6B5YFf3yl8z_kTwqr7Q3SbXk7Jf50_ygCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="750" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mbqTiDMfUZU/XF2uQmf7TUI/AAAAAAAAAwc/y6B5YFf3yl8z_kTwqr7Q3SbXk7Jf50_ygCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1022.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Brightening up a bedroom, whether it be your own or the guest room is a really simple thing to do if you're after a change without spending too much money. If you're on a budget there are still little tweaks you can make that will make a bedroom feel much fresher. I love adding little touches to our bedroom to give it a different feel every now and again without changing expensive things like the furniture or the colour of the walls. Here are my tips for making a bedroom brighter and fresher on a budget.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Change the bedding</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;">This is probably the easiest one of all to do but it can have a massive impact on the look and feel of the room. If you're bedroom is quite neutral, bedding is a great area to play around with colour. Whilst duvet sets can get quite expensive, <a href="https://www.latestdeals.co.uk/tags/bedding" target="_blank">there are some amazing deals to be found for bedding</a>&nbsp;whilst all still being soft and good quality. Chances are your bed is in the middle of the room which means it's a real focus point so changing out the bedding is a great way to alter to look of a room without spending loads of money. Making the bed look inviting doesn't have to be saved for guests, it's important that you're own bed is comfy and relaxing too and some new bedding can make the world of difference in helping you enjoy your bedroom more.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">New lamps</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know about anyone else but I hate using the main light in the bedroom for any length of time, especially on a night, it's just too bright! I feel much more relaxed using bedside lamps with a warm glow. Chances are you don't give too much thought to your bedside lamps but updating them can add a whole different look to the room for not a lot of money. Whether you're going for something <a href="https://www.matalan.co.uk/product/detail/s2699287_c000/callisto-smoked-glass-task-table-lamp-h48cm-x-w19cm-grey" target="_blank">industrial</a> or something <a href="https://direct.asda.com/george/home-garden/table-floor-lamps/black-geometric-wire-table-lamp/050598469,default,pd.html?cgid=D26M19G01C07" target="_blank">unusual</a> it pays to put a bit of thought into it and go for something new, after all they kind of frame your bed so will go a long way to changing the feel of your room.</div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: #ea9999;">Plants</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;">Plants, real or fake have become a huge thing now. The look of both the plant and the pot it comes in can really lift a bedroom. If you're worried about upkeep, or if you're like me and you've got pets that will chew anything and everything then fake is probably the way to go but there are <a href="https://www.matalan.co.uk/homeware/living/artificial-plants-andflowers" target="_blank">some amazing fake plants</a> out there now that look just as good as their living counterparts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Candles/Wax melts</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;">This is something I never used to give much thought to, but I love burning candles and wax melts in my bedroom now, they make the room smell amazing and much more inviting. For the bedroom, your best bet is something clean or relaxing. You don't want anything that's too overpowering as it's all about creating a relaxed environment. There are some amazing candles and wax melts to be found at really good prices, I'd highly recommend <a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2019/01/emily-makes-boutique-valentines.html" target="_blank">trying a small business</a> over big brands though as the quality and fragrance throw tends to be so much better.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So that was my quick guide on cheap and easy ways to update the look of bedroom. Let me know if you have any other suggestions!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-48573367981446820722019-02-12T07:00:00.000+00:002019-02-12T07:00:07.283+00:00Why a low paid job isn't a bad thing<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nyn3usgalhs/XFW2Xs7kyNI/AAAAAAAAAt4/VMaYjMXxEAUdVTwYYfnL5ePzVuS51N5IACLcBGAs/s1600/low%2Bpaid%2Bjob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nyn3usgalhs/XFW2Xs7kyNI/AAAAAAAAAt4/VMaYjMXxEAUdVTwYYfnL5ePzVuS51N5IACLcBGAs/s640/low%2Bpaid%2Bjob.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I finished university almost 6 years ago now. In that time I’ve had 4 jobs and done two different roles at my current place of work. They’ve all been quite similar jobs and shock horror, none of them require a degree. Do I get paid a good wage? Not at all. Is my job in anyway related to what I studied at university? Nope. Am I happy? Yes, very. And that’s the key. Here's why my low paid job has far more positives than negatives.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">My job and money</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lets start with a bit of background, obviously I'm not going to go revealing exactly how much money I earn nor am I going to give away too many details about my job. Money is a sensitive subject but I want to be honest. I'm hoping you know from my many money saving posts that I'm always upfront and open and this post won't be any different but lets get down to it. I work in a school, I've worked in education for 5 years now in 3 different schools as well as a brief period of doing supply work and at my current school I've worked in two different roles. All of my jobs have been pretty similar. None of them require a degree despite the fact I have one and none of them have been well paid. The role I'm currently in is the best paid one of the lot but lets not get carried away with ourselves here, I'm not earning a lot of money by any stretch of the imagination and part of the reason I currently have more money is because my job is within walking distance so I'm not paying for transport either. My hours are classed as part time which also lowers my wage.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Why I'm happy in my job</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't get me wrong in the last 5 years I haven't always been happy in my job, supply work wasn't for me but it was a necessity at the time, I started off mostly enjoying my last job but ended up really unhappy by the end and the first role I had at my current school really wasn't for me at all. But the role I'm doing now? I love it! How many people can genuinely say they enjoy their job? I'm guessing not all that many. My job allows me to own a home, a home I bought at 24 years old, allows me to decorate and renovate the way I want, to save for holidays but more than that it’s also a relatively stress free job, it’s fun, every day is different, each job I've had in the last 5 years has allowed me to learn and experience things I never thought I would, all without using my degree. I now have a speech and language qualification and I taught myself to read and write Braille and passed the exam with flying colours (learning to Braille was something I needed in my last job). I get time to pursue hobbies and read books with plenty of time left in my day to do so after work and usually without feeling worn out. Who wouldn’t want all that? That heatwave we had back in 2018, I got to enjoy that to the max. On average I'm home from work anything between 3.30 and 4pm on an average day which gives me so much time to enjoy things outside of work. I'm rarely in a bad mood after work and it's not often that I feel too tired to do anything. I've never experienced this and I love, right now I wouldn't want to trade that for anything.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">What about earning more money?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course there are occasions where I think it'd be nice to have a bit more money. But you're not telling me that someone who earns, double, triple what I earn doesn't think the same, because they do. It's always easy to want more than what you've got. I have to save hard for the things I want and that's OK because the satisfaction I get from being able to that is bloody great! I don’t know where I’ll be in 5 or 10 years time but I have no immediate plans to move jobs. Jobs I could do like grad schemes or teacher training don't interest me in the slightest. See that bit above where I said I’m happy? Why would I change that for something I currently have no interest in? I wouldn't not even for more money.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">But you could do so much more!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh if only I had a pound for every time the suggestion that I be a teacher has been raised in the last 6 years then I’d probably be rich enough to retire right now! Joking aside though, having a degree and already working in school does not make me want to teach. I have no desire the enter into that world. At all. And nope, 6 years on I still haven’t changed my mind and it’s unlikely I ever will.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The long and short of it is, if you love what you're doing then that's great and it is nobody's place to tell you that you should be doing something different. I know I’m not at all in a minority of people who don’t use their degree or who are in a job that doesn’t require a degree even if they went to uni, and I don’t want anyone to ever think that that matters, because it doesn’t. If you are happy, that’s what matters. Stand by your decisions and continue to be happy. I could walk into a job tomorrow that pays double even triple what I earn now and while I'm sure I'd be extremely pleased with the money I probably wouldn’t be as happy as I am now with my work-life balance. There’s more to life than money, god the events of the past year have taught me that big time and while ever I’m earning enough to pay my bills and have fun I don’t need anything more.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Pin this:</span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JgcA3aOFSyc/XFW6q38BGSI/AAAAAAAAAuE/xNKR3yZC1KgJJ4mlHRyXexHa8ZkqtQWpgCLcBGAs/s1600/why%2Ba%2Blow%2Bpaid%2Bjob%2Bisn%2527t%2Ba%2Bbad%2Bthing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JgcA3aOFSyc/XFW6q38BGSI/AAAAAAAAAuE/xNKR3yZC1KgJJ4mlHRyXexHa8ZkqtQWpgCLcBGAs/s640/why%2Ba%2Blow%2Bpaid%2Bjob%2Bisn%2527t%2Ba%2Bbad%2Bthing.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-15061495885060638182019-02-11T07:00:00.000+00:002019-02-11T07:00:04.262+00:00Florida 2018 Day 9: Blizzard Beach and Epcot Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QstxUQtXmeU/XC4vpXdGmtI/AAAAAAAAAnw/W6z1tAzjrpEZlX94OUdkdDVxcGn3-3YVQCLcBGAs/s1600/11-02-2018%2B-%2BBlizzard%2BBeach%2Band%2BEpcot%2B%2528part%2B2%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QstxUQtXmeU/XC4vpXdGmtI/AAAAAAAAAnw/W6z1tAzjrpEZlX94OUdkdDVxcGn3-3YVQCLcBGAs/s1600/11-02-2018%2B-%2BBlizzard%2BBeach%2Band%2BEpcot%2B%2528part%2B2%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Welcome to our Florida 2018 vlog series. This trip is the whole reason we started vlogging, so we're so excited to share this content with you. We absolutely love Disney and had the best trip ever so we hope you all enjoy the vlogs!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In this vlog we try some food in the Mexican Pavillion, ride Soarin' for the first time then head over to the Boardwalk for a margarita and a beautiful view of IllumiNations. We hope you enjoy our night time trip around Epcot. You can watch the first part of day 9 here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/T5B-KV5-hB8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T5B-KV5-hB8?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Pin this:</span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iFeh7RlNw4w/XFm0dNj-GWI/AAAAAAAAAvo/-jDXmA8g48svYnEOJbbZwjYtbsLOgwKVQCLcBGAs/s1600/Florida%2BDay%2B9%2BPart%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iFeh7RlNw4w/XFm0dNj-GWI/AAAAAAAAAvo/-jDXmA8g48svYnEOJbbZwjYtbsLOgwKVQCLcBGAs/s640/Florida%2BDay%2B9%2BPart%2B2.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-4374015091672417242019-02-08T07:37:00.000+00:002019-02-08T07:37:48.365+00:00Are millennials really the worst generation?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FIwcfPOLXWk/XFnI9IozIJI/AAAAAAAAAwE/8L3-00SAxmsE2G09t_klazqgeV62dbPQACLcBGAs/s1600/are%2Bmillennials%2Bthe%2Bworst%2Bgeneration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1579" data-original-width="1053" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FIwcfPOLXWk/XFnI9IozIJI/AAAAAAAAAwE/8L3-00SAxmsE2G09t_klazqgeV62dbPQACLcBGAs/s1600/are%2Bmillennials%2Bthe%2Bworst%2Bgeneration.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">So what's the problem with millennials? Well if you believe what you read everyday then the answer to that would be everything! It's probably because I'm part of this generation that I seem to see a lot of complaints about millennials, which are very widely generalised and for me (and lots of others) completely wrong. We've some how been labelled the lazy, financially insecure generation. Basically we're the generation that financially rely on parents, live at home longer, can't save for the future and don't have a stable career. Hang on, what do you mean that doesn't sound like you?! Well fear not, it doesn't sound like me either. I'm slap bang in the middle of the millennial generation, I bought my own house at 24, gave my dad rent money whilst I still lived at home, I have a pension and I'd like to think I'm pretty financially savvy. In fact, I'm in charge of bills and finances in our house! Recently I was asked to be part of a campaign over on <a href="https://ithinkfinance.com/exposing-millennial-money-myths/" target="_blank">iThink Finance all about exposing millennial money stereotypes</a>. It's a campaign I was super happy to lend my opinion to so it'd be great if you could check it out. So are millennials really the worst generation? No I don't think so, I just think our lives are so different to that of even our parents that previous generations can't keep up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">So are millennials just lazy?</span></b></h3><div style="text-align: center;">In my opinion the idea that millennials are lazy, entitled and unambitious definitely stems from the difficulty that many find in getting on the property ladder as well as a complete shift in the types of careers people are making for themselves, jobs are available now that weren't even around 10 years ago and this is still hard for people, especially older generations, to wrap their heads around. People very often don't see all the hard works that goes into building your own career so it's very easy to dismiss people as being lazy. This shift towards less traditional roles and more self employment is way harder than actually working for someone else though. You basically have to be a jack-of-all-trades to make it work and that requires a lot of effort. Millennials are more in the mindset of creating a good life and great memories that are based on so much more than a career and a home now. We went experiences not things, we're settling down much later than what even our parents did which may come across as unambitious when really it's just what we want out of life has changed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">But millennials aren't buying homes</span></b></h3><div style="text-align: center;">Despire the general consensus being that we're the generation that expect our parent to keep us forever, I do think a lot of millennials are buying homes. A lot of factors come into play on this one though, location is a big one as well as career. Many homes are simply out a reach for a milleninal now and the prices certainly aren't designed to give anyone a chance to get on the property ladder. I bought my first home when I was 24, I'm 27 now and a massive factor in being able to do that was the location, I live in a small village in South Yorkshire where house prices are pretty reasonable. I also think a lot of millennials prefer to have more of a portfolio career now, we're seeing a massive increase in people working for themselves which can also make it harder for people to get on the property ladder. Assessments for mortgages etc certainly haven't moved on with this times and buying a house is still pretty much geared towards being easy for people with a more traditional job. I bought my house with my partner and at the time we both had standard jobs, my partner is now self employed and I do worry how easy it will be for us to secure another mortgage when we decide to move. I don't think it's a case of scrimping off parents I think its a case of people who really do want to buy and not just rent have to stay at home longer now even if they don't want to.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">What about the future?</span></b></h3><div style="text-align: center;">There are definitely other priorities now rather than saving for retirement, we'll all have to work for much longer anyway so why not actually enjoy life while we can. There's more of a life is for living attitude now. I think millennials are much more interested in experiencing life while they're young rather than saving for old age and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I think many of us grew up with parents who were married, had a home and had children all by their mid twenties and who went to work (and continue to do so) day in and day out to build up that pension pot and that's just not the life we want. While there's nothing wrong with putting a little away for retirement, people want to experience life now, not when they're 70. Again it's just about a change in attitude that hasn't become the norm. It's so against what people have done for many generations now that a change is hard to accept.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Basically what I'm trying to say is there is a massive widespread misconception about millennials and many of us are definitely bucking the stereotypes. The best way forward would be to accept the lives of millennials don't look the same as previous generations but the best course of action would be to recognise people for their achievements not for which generational stereotypes they do (or don't, in my case) fit into!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't forget to check out iThink Finance for <a href="https://ithinkfinance.com/exposing-millennial-money-myths/" target="_blank">more of my thoughts on the subject</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Pin this:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGl-Pi4LpxQ/XFnNV1tChnI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/td99lMg6q54Ux_gMF2z2dOxUTnsdMsJWACLcBGAs/s1600/Are%2Bmillennials%2Bthe%2Bworst%2Bgeneration_.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGl-Pi4LpxQ/XFnNV1tChnI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/td99lMg6q54Ux_gMF2z2dOxUTnsdMsJWACLcBGAs/s640/Are%2Bmillennials%2Bthe%2Bworst%2Bgeneration_.png" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-23171523368388591232019-02-07T07:00:00.000+00:002019-02-07T07:00:10.803+00:00Why I keep my cats indoors<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tR1tdWsMtLg/XFWn6__FeEI/AAAAAAAAAtg/Q1QFYUSAKYMMxp2DWPOksbZINjMywv09gCLcBGAs/s1600/75228D7D-A37B-405C-BE4F-2E05338E99F4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why keeping cats indoors is a good thing" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tR1tdWsMtLg/XFWn6__FeEI/AAAAAAAAAtg/Q1QFYUSAKYMMxp2DWPOksbZINjMywv09gCLcBGAs/s1600/75228D7D-A37B-405C-BE4F-2E05338E99F4.JPG" title="" /></a>I've spoken about my cats a few times on the blog now and I'd like to start doing more pet posts on here. For those of you who aren't aware, I have two male cats Buddy and Dobby who are brothers. They are almost 3 now and they joined my little family when they were nine weeks old. Today I thought I'd talk about why I came to the decision to keep them both indoors and a bit about my experience of having indoor cats. This is actually in the lead up to another post I have planned about everything you need to know about indoor cats but I thought it would be good to start with my experience of it.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Why I decided to keep Buddy and Dobby indoors</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Buddy and Dobby joined our family in August 2016 not long after Josh and I moved in together. We'd always known we'd get a cat as Josh had always had them and I loved them. The original plan was to only get one cat but that quickly changed when we saw Buddy all on his own so we ended up with two cats from the same litter. At the time we both worked in schools so we'd decided to keep them indoors over winter (they weren't neutered until January so we wouldn't have let them out before then anyway) and then introduce them to the outside world when the weather warmed up, they were a bit bigger and we had time off work. We didn't want their first experience of being outside as us throwing them out the door before we headed off to work for the day.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think it was around Easter time when we first let them outside. At the time they had a huge pet pen/bag similar to this so we put them in that and brought it outside and opened it up then they could come out in their own time. Their first time out wasn't too bad, they explored our garden (we have a huge garden), popped next door then came back home, they stuck together the whole time though. The next day we opened our kitchen doors and let them come out in their own time, Buddy came out first and immediately I could tell he wasn't enjoying it, his eyes were wide, he was really alert and jumpy. We tried playing with him and he just wasn't interested, he jumped at every little noise and eventually ran back inside. As for Dobby, well he never even made it out of the kitchen! He came to the door looked around and walked back in the house, he did this a few times but never actually came outside, he just seemed really timid and disinterested in being outside.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So aside from the fact the neither cat seemed interested in being outside a few other factors cemented our decision to keep them indoors. Obviously we didn't want to push them into going outside if it scared them, to this day I still don't know what scared Buddy so much but he does go through phases of being really jumpy and scared so maybe it was that. As for Dobby, I didn't want to push him out when he wasn't even interested in being outside, he'd had plenty of time to come out if he wanted, he's always been quite timid around people and even now he's not a massive fan of visitors. We're pretty sure he was the runt of the litter as even now he's pretty small compared to his brother so I just don't think being outside suited his personality! Also at the time we moved major building work was due to take place and the empty land directly behind our house, the work actually hasn't started yet but I didn't feel comfortable with the cats being so close to a building site. Another big factor was the number of reports of animal abuse in our village, now I like to think we leave in quite a nice village and our street is lovely but Josh used to live about 5 minutes away from where we moved and one of his cats was shot and another died from suspected poisoning, sadly these don't seem to be isolated incidents and reports like that happen quite regularly around here, so for their own safety and my own peace of mind we decided to let them be indoor cats.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">The pros&nbsp;</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">For me the biggest pro of keeping Buddy and Dobby inside is that I know they're safe. I also believe in the long term it's reducing the cost of vets bills, we're certainly never going to incur any of the charges you might face with an outdoor cat from accidents that occur. We know exactly what they're doing and eating meaning they're in tip top condition. In fact at the last vets checkup and vaccination booster the vet commented that they were the healthiest looking cats she'd seen in a while and that they're coats were in amazing condition. Proud mama right here! Spending a lot of time and bonding with the cats is also a massive plus for me, I've spoken before about why I think pets are great for your mental health and I just love having my boys around all the time. They seem to know I've I'm not feeling 100% with an IBS flare up or if I've had a bad day. The fact that indoor cats require more attention is a pro for me because I am more than willing to spend time with them, I'm home from work fairly early and Josh works from home at the moment so they always have someone around.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">The cons</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Personally, I can only think of one con of my situation and that's the litter tray. I'm so self conscious that my house smells like a cat toilet because I know it's such a strong smell and for people who don't have cats or a litter tray in their house, I know that they'll be able to smell it because Josh and I stopped noticing it a long time back. We always keep on top of emptying the tray and giving it a good scrub down every now and then and you'll always find me burning candles and wax melts! Emptying the litter tray is hands down my least favourite thing about owning a cat but it has to be done and they have to go to the toilet somewhere seen as they live indoors, so short of doing a Jack Byrnes from Meet the Parents and teaching them to use the toilet then we're stuck with the litter tray!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Will they ever go outside?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not now, no. Buddy and Dobby are almost 3 now and I think at this stage it would be unfair to put them outside, the situation works so why mess with it. They never really show any interest in being outside now, in fact there's been many occasions where a door has been left open by accident or we've quickly popped outside and left the door open and neither of them have bothered coming out, they've even on occasion walked past an open door, sniffed the air and walked off!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Pin this:</span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aLOM3zUDOro/XFWseXuxsJI/AAAAAAAAAts/ddbQumrYqhkSix560ZS2S8-VhHNBvmBhgCLcBGAs/s1600/Why%2BI%2Bkeep%2Bmy%2Bcats%2Bindoors%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aLOM3zUDOro/XFWseXuxsJI/AAAAAAAAAts/ddbQumrYqhkSix560ZS2S8-VhHNBvmBhgCLcBGAs/s640/Why%2BI%2Bkeep%2Bmy%2Bcats%2Bindoors%2B2.png" width="426" /></a></div></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-49722125754987240532019-02-06T15:45:00.003+00:002019-02-10T10:14:55.087+00:00The essential guide to buying your first house | AD<span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a contributed post that may contain affiliate links.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/zMZno-97KSuN1l4dZO-kqZ4dBj7ZNq0dp2db6msCPm3q1wq4nuB0uxZ_Ftacvfva65dLYlDspIlb1JkLYSTA3q0AZuKGZPkr-iai0lcYk04uAGmhvAwBQXylrsWKKV8aYN-CdgcS" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pxhere.com/en/photo/541022" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Source</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you are a seasoned renter, the chances are that you are eager to stop lining somebody else’s pockets and find yourself a little patch of bricks and mortar that you can call your own. Buying your first home is a massive commitment, and it can be a worrying process. You need to work out where you want to put down roots, find the funding for a deposit and ensure that you can make money on your home for however long you are going to live there. Your first home will not be your forever home so there will be compromises to be made. Take a look at this essential guide to buying your first home.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: #ea9999;">Legalities</span></h3></div><div style="text-align: center;">Buying a home costs money. It is prudent to head to a site like <a href="https://www.theadvisory.co.uk/conveyancing/conveyancing-fees-and-quotes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Advisory</a> that gives impartial advice on conveyancing fees and solicitors. Buying a home is a complex legal process that requires a fully qualified legal professional who specialises in these sorts of transactions, so look for someone local who is easy to get hold of if you ever have any questions. Your solicitor needs to be an individual that you trust and who you get along with. Often, unforeseen circumstances and issues arise during a house sale, so it’s vital that communication channels are open at all times.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">The Search</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;">When looking for <a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2019/02/must-have-tech-for-your-home.html" target="_blank">your first home</a>, try and locate a property that you can grow into. That doesn't mean stretching yourself and buying a five bed detached mansion, but you might want to consider a spare bedroom or a small garden. You need to find a property that you can imagine yourself living in and being happy in. Consider the location where the property is situated. A crime ridden hotspot with poor schools and weak transport links will struggle to increase in value unless the infrastructure and community is drastically overhauled.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Instead, go for a location that is relatively <a href="https://www.onthemarket.com/content/10-top-tips-finding-home-buy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">well established</a> and sought after. For your first property, you need an area that will increase in value to allow you to outperform the market and pump any profits into a future house purchase.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Making Money</span></b></h3><div style="text-align: center;">If you’re keen to <a href="https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/investing/article-5426101/Why-property-isnt-investment-think-is.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">outperform the market</a>, don't buy a house that has already been fully renovated. You need some wriggle room to upgrade the pad, whether this is putting in a new kitchen and bathroom, extending upwards or outwards, or knocking through to create more fashionable open plan living spaces. Over a few years, you can take your time and renovate your abode. By spending a little bit of your hard earned cash, you can invest into an asset, ready to cash in when you are able to make the next leap up the housing ladder.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Buying your first home can be a little scary. However, by saving up for a chunky deposit, finding a favourable mortgage rate, utilising a top quality solicitor, and purchasing in a solid location, you can be happy in your new home and enjoy taking your first foray into the property market.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-16235922615939501202019-02-05T15:56:00.004+00:002019-02-10T10:14:15.795+00:00Must Have Tech For Your Home | AD<span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a contributed post that may contain affiliate links.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Y2HXUVlcsyMuTwL08l-lezJLyVxgwn38km9yDYknLrsmWBMYB4GfK5bdJ1PW0NMbPzmGiDpRATgnPSBxOPNLsbpf5KTpFTV0RvIz-A7VOJzfKT_hC8YzeOPMptgA7VhFn5TADzpx" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/en/smart-home-house-technology-3395994/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Credit: Pixabay</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Technology for the home is a must in 2019, it’s not just about having the latest gadget anymore, but they can now help you to run your home, save energy and increase security.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Smart devices are connected to your smartphone so you can control whatever it is you want to remotely, whether it’s turning the heating on for when you get home, checking on the <a href="https://www.rhinocctv.com/home-cctv/" rel="" target="_blank">home CCTV systems</a> or just turning on some music without having to get up.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It’s better to stick with the one brand to make sure everything syncs, for example, the Apple Home app works on the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, <a href="https://www.apple.com/homepod/" rel="" target="_blank">HomePod speaker</a> and Mac computers and all you need to do to control the gadgets is to say “Hey, Siri” to the Apple device. Similarly, with Google, Google Home and Google Home Mini, you can speak to the Google Assistant, and these can also be controlled through an Android phone or the dedicated Google Assistant app for iPhone. Another popular system is Amazon’s Alexa. All can do similar things but check out what particular device get is compatible with the other tech you have.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Smart Thermostats&nbsp;</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Different brands are coming onto the market now which allow you to <a href="http://www.climote.ie/products/on-your-phone/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">turn the heating up or down via your smartphone</a>, or by asking Alexa or Google to do it for you. You can schedule the times for the heating to go on and as the products get smarter, they learn your movements. For example, if you’ve accidentally left the heating on, it will turn it off for you.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Smart Doorbells&nbsp;</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">A <a href="https://ring.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">video bell which attaches to your door</a> can be so handy. When someone rings the bell, it can notify your phone instantly, and a speaker and microphone mean you can speak to whoever is at your door directly. Most devices come with a rechargeable battery that can be easily removed and offer a video recording plan too.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Smart Bathroom Scales</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nokia does some fantastic <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Withings-Nokia-Body-Composition-smartphone/dp/B071XW4C5Q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">connected bathroom scales</a> which not only tell you your weight but your body water content, fat content and more. They can also tell you the weather forecast for the day and your heart rate. Not only this, but they also save every measurement to the Nokia Health app on your phone or online so that you can monitor your weight gain or loss over a period and spot any trends that you might find hard to otherwise. The scales also include a coaching programme which will send you gentle encouragement emails to help you reach your goals. They will also allow you to see your weight in kilos, lbs or stones and lbs and they are even smart enough to know who’s standing on them just from the weight. This means that several members of a family can use them.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are many different gadgets for each purpose, so it’s hard to compare them but if you read reviews on specific makes and go with the ones which are compatible with what you already have then you can’t go far wrong.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-72605251519381519742019-02-05T07:00:00.000+00:002019-02-05T07:00:00.979+00:00The Lingering by S.J.I. Holliday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9cla678BM5w/XFR5N7LcL1I/AAAAAAAAAtE/arBQU9CxqJ0xi2GETYCEaDEajNrR6IMSACLcBGAs/s1600/the%2Blingering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Lingering book review" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="326" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9cla678BM5w/XFR5N7LcL1I/AAAAAAAAAtE/arBQU9CxqJ0xi2GETYCEaDEajNrR6IMSACLcBGAs/s640/the%2Blingering.jpg" title="" width="416" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">Married couple Jack and Ali Gardiner move to a self-sufficient commune in the English Fens, desperate for fresh start. The local village is known for the witches who once resided there and Rosalind House, where the commune has been established, is a former psychiatric home, with a disturbing history.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">When Jack and Ali arrive, a chain of unexpected and unexplained events is set off, and it becomes clear that they are not all that they seem. As the residents become twitchy, and the villagers suspicious, events from the past come back to haunt them, and someone is seeking retribution…</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As soon as you begin reading The Lingering, you know there's something not quite right about Ali and Jack. They've packed up their former lives and good jobs and are on their way to live in a commune in the hopes of rescuing their relationship but you don't know what's caused the cracks in their marriage. When they arrive Ali struggles to adjust to the new lifestyle, despite it being her suggestion that they live here, Jack on the other hand seems to be adapting really well. Another curious resident begins to sense that something isn't quite right about the couple though and decides to investigate, what she unearths is beyond what anyone could imagine. Ali has to battle to protect herself and Jack whilst something in the house seems out to get Ali. Will she hold it all together or in her new home, a former psychiatric hospital, will she begin to unravel?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not too far into the novel I started to hate Ali, I really don't think she's a character you're meant to like though. Especially when her true nature is revealed. I really enjoyed the mash-up of supernatural and mystery. Though I wouldn't necessarily label the book a horror story as it's not actually that scary in a terms of supernatural happenings and more scary in revealing what Jack and Ali have done. It was a really clever plot and twist and one that upon starting the book you wouldn't expect.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I did find the links between the witch trials, the days of the psychiatric hospital and the current day a little tedious as it felt a little unecessary to have all three of those things linked, especially as the links were quite weak too. Personally I think it would have worked better if the witch trials plot had been taken out together and then there could have maybe been a better focus on creating stronger connections between the 1950's and modern day.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In all The Lingering was an enjoyable, fast paced read that kept me guessing throughout. I liked that it wasn't a predictable horror story in that it didn't focus on the supernatural too much and more on what humans are capable of when they're alive!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rating: ★★★★☆</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #ea9999; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #ea9999; font-size: x-large;">Pin this:&nbsp;</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QrHI0UQ1Soo/XFR_87_jlKI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/fiNG9Sphp_kzNnSxdy3mr1tB2UK8qIg5wCLcBGAs/s1600/the%2Blingering.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QrHI0UQ1Soo/XFR_87_jlKI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/fiNG9Sphp_kzNnSxdy3mr1tB2UK8qIg5wCLcBGAs/s640/the%2Blingering.png" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-1015505030325192712019-02-04T07:00:00.000+00:002019-02-04T07:00:07.913+00:00Florida 2018 Day 9: Blizzard Beach and Epcot Part 1 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kIhiVyQo5B0/XC4umHlonWI/AAAAAAAAAnk/6aG-eVlbghIi3qRbyHcSTW52T34HDcDWACLcBGAs/s1600/10-30-2018%2B-%2BBlizzard%2BBeach%2Band%2BEpcot%2B%2528part%2B1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kIhiVyQo5B0/XC4umHlonWI/AAAAAAAAAnk/6aG-eVlbghIi3qRbyHcSTW52T34HDcDWACLcBGAs/s1600/10-30-2018%2B-%2BBlizzard%2BBeach%2Band%2BEpcot%2B%2528part%2B1%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Welcome to our Florida 2018 vlog series. This trip is the whole reason we started vlogging, so we're so excited to share this content with you. We absolutely love Disney and had the best trip ever so we hope you all enjoy the vlogs!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In this vlog we're at Blizzard Beach, we don't end up filming the rides as we're having too much fun and just wanted some time to enjoy ourselves without a camera attached to us. We do take you on a walk around the park though before heading off for an evening at Epcot. We hope you enjoy the little tour of Blizzard Beach.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-2kpmE1M1NU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-2kpmE1M1NU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><b>Pin this:</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2WPN8E_DPRU/XFR1N6QO5EI/AAAAAAAAAs4/hxChldBwWw01N_Bb5jVEbui8E9czllApwCLcBGAs/s1600/Florida%2BDay%2B9%2Bpart%2B1%2B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2WPN8E_DPRU/XFR1N6QO5EI/AAAAAAAAAs4/hxChldBwWw01N_Bb5jVEbui8E9czllApwCLcBGAs/s640/Florida%2BDay%2B9%2Bpart%2B1%2B.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-45609757194047581402019-02-01T07:00:00.000+00:002019-02-01T07:00:00.284+00:00Happy List: January 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wkQVTKlQCck/XFHNcju0qTI/AAAAAAAAAss/QHd93lsM4CkEQl1aMK3Velao6yg4ZUNsgCLcBGAs/s1600/E40B0FF4-135E-4A31-A4CC-1AA3293B2443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wkQVTKlQCck/XFHNcju0qTI/AAAAAAAAAss/QHd93lsM4CkEQl1aMK3Velao6yg4ZUNsgCLcBGAs/s1600/E40B0FF4-135E-4A31-A4CC-1AA3293B2443.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the first Happy List of 2019! Despite not really having any photos for this month, January has actually been pretty good and fairly busy. I've had a really positive start to the new year and I really hope it a sign that this year is going to be a good one!</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">1. The biggest thing that's took over most of the month was making a start on renovating our kitchen. It was a bit of a snap decision in some ways but I couldn't be happy! We've wanted to renovate the kitchen for a long time but suddenly all these ideas and plans came about and we just cracked on with it. I've purposely not really shared any photos of what we've done so far because I do have some blog posts planned in the future. It's by no means finished but what we have done so far has made a massive difference to the look of the kitchen. I've gone from hating the room to loving it. It'll be quite a while before it's finished as there's a lot to do but I can't wait to start sharing some details about in. In the meantime you can <a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2019/01/kitchen-renovation-plans-on-budget.html" target="_blank">check out my kitchen renovation plans on a budget post</a> to see our initial plans. Things have changed since I published that post but it's good to get an idea of what we were originally thinking!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2. I've started a newsletter! It's something I've wanted to do for a while so I've finally decided to go for it. If you'd like to subscribe you can do so with the newsletter sign up form in my sidebar (if you're reading this on mobile switch to the desktop version). You can also <a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2019/01/im-starting-monthly-newsletter.html" target="_blank">get more details about the newsletter in this post.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">3. January was a very good reading month. I've flown through books and I've been<a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/search/label/Books" target="_blank"> keeping up with my reviews</a>. I definitely let the reviews slide last year but it's good to have them back!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4. The end of January also marked our one year Youtube anniversary. Back in September we decided to switch from weekly vlogging to daily vlogging and we love it. It'd be great to have you along on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmoLEEgnox8HLEIXasPPkog/featured?view_as=subscriber" target="_blank">our little channel.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-34208786032734189212019-01-31T15:52:00.002+00:002019-02-05T15:57:58.057+00:00How to create the perfect rustic home interior | AD<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a contributed post that may contain affiliate links.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/CqO_65hoyLN2bsY2JqOA1f-52hwES93e4BaTTpkgdM_sjiKYUv1lg58kokawV22usS-F5enzeH1ZH_NsMIFiwOmvFW1MQingIv2NaUereJZPVXqoz-Mq-6Lv4pmbZY2zuSAGtTwJ" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/chairs-holiday-home-home-interior-decoration-276573/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image From Pexels</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The rustic look is a popular interior design trend at the minute. So many hipster bars and cafes have adopted it and more and more people are using it in their homes as well. The modern, minimalist look is starting to fall out of style because it doesn’t always give you the most homely feel and people want something a little more unique instead. If you’re thinking about decorating your home and you want to embrace the rustic style, here are some simple tips to help you along the way.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Make Good Use Of Wood</span></b>&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">When you’re choosing materials for rustic home decor, wood is your best friend. Get rid of any brushed steel or plastic furniture and replace it with some nice wooden furniture instead. If you take up the carpets, you might uncover some beautiful wooden flooring. It might need a bit of attention but you can sand it down and stain it yourself. If you take the carpets up and the floors are in very poor condition, you can get some great <a href="https://www.carpetone.com.au/category/laminate/" rel="" target="_blank">laminate floors at carpetone.com.au</a> and put that down instead. When you’re furnishing the house, you should always check out antique shops or second hand furniture places. You can find some great authentic pieces of furniture that will look great and it’ll be a lot cheaper than paying for brand new stuff as well.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Recycle&nbsp;</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">When you’re trying to create a modern, minimalist interior, you need brand new sleek looking furniture and materials. But rustic interior isn’t about looking shiny and new, which gives you a lot of opportunity to use recycled materials. It helps you to create a great rustic look and it saves you loads of money as well so it’s ideal if you’re trying to <a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/12/how-to-stick-to-your-home-improvement.html" target="_blank">stick to a strict budget</a>. Second hand furniture is one easy way to do that, but you could even consider making your own furniture out of reclaimed wood. There are plenty of great sites online with tutorials on how to build your own furniture from old pallet crates. You can build some great wall decorations like wooden signs or even a wood panel wall from reclaimed wood.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Take Inspiration From Nature&nbsp;</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rustic interior works best when you take inspiration from nature. Incorporating wood is a big part of that but there are other ways to do it. Plants are an absolute must in a rustic home so don’t hold back. The colours can get a little dull if you’re using lots of wood but some nice plants will brighten the place up a lot. If you display them in some <a href="https://balconygardenweb.com/upcycled-indoor-garden-ideas/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">upcycled containers</a> like old watering cans or knick knacks from an antique shop, it really ties everything together.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Use The Natural Features Of Your Home&nbsp;</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Often, a lot of the great rustic features that you want in your home are already there, you just have to highlight them. For example, if you’ve got wooden cabinets that are painted, why not just strip back that paint and uncover the natural wood underneath instead? Taking the paint and plaster off the walls to <a href="https://www.realhomes.com/advice/how-to-create-a-feature-with-an-exposed-brick-wall" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">create exposed brick</a> gives you a great natural look as well.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The rustic look is a great option for the home because it’s always in style and it’s very cost effective.<span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-51300594913629620752019-01-31T07:00:00.000+00:002019-01-31T07:00:06.150+00:00Emily Makes Boutique Valentine's Collection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5v-dsYwNGfs/XFCEr8OGKmI/AAAAAAAAArk/P9hDyqrr65g3BWjPKs-ELZNLRuwB3xnEwCLcBGAs/s1600/96478F42-43D3-4110-BA86-DD795EA243BE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5v-dsYwNGfs/XFCEr8OGKmI/AAAAAAAAArk/P9hDyqrr65g3BWjPKs-ELZNLRuwB3xnEwCLcBGAs/s1600/96478F42-43D3-4110-BA86-DD795EA243BE.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure - I am a brand rep for Emily Makes Boutique and receive a monthly parcel containing samples for me to review on my Instagram, I receive no payment for the reviews and I am not asked not writes blog posts. Given that I've featured the brand before with products I bought with my own money, I figured some of you might be interested in hearing about the new collection. All samples featured in this post were sent to me as part of the brand rep deal.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">After featuring some of the<a href="https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/2018/11/emily-makes-boutique-christmas-haul.html" target="_blank"> Christmas collection scents</a> from EMB back in December I thought some of you would be interested to see <a href="http://www.emilymakesboutique.co.uk/shop/Valentines-Day-Products-c31912138" target="_blank">the Valentine's collection</a>. These reviews are pretty much what I said on Instagram but I'm aware that many people who come across my blog don't follow me on there. EMB brand reps are always encouraged to give an honest review and just because I don't like something doesn't mean to say someone else won't love it, we all love different scents! That's why I've included the scent notes here as it gives a much better idea of the fragrance. If you'd like to <a href="http://www.emilymakesboutique.co.uk/" target="_blank">make an order on EMB</a> then you can pop my code 'laureny.c' in the notes to seller at checkout and you'll receive a freebie with your order.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Porn Star Martini</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lw6x9LqLdH4/XFCHmeBt2fI/AAAAAAAAAsg/qEI_Dz4Xj_8egT3S8Zs9WmHFC9uBY0I6ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Image-1%2B%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="750" height="636" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lw6x9LqLdH4/XFCHmeBt2fI/AAAAAAAAAsg/qEI_Dz4Xj_8egT3S8Zs9WmHFC9uBY0I6ACEwYBhgL/s640/Image-1%2B%25282%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">A fresh blend of passion fruit and lime with vanilla and a hit of champagne.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although I don't usually go for fruity scents (I prefer homely warming scents or something clean and relaxing) I was excited for this one, who doesn't love cocktails. The colours in this are amazing and that purple glitter is great! Unfortunately this scent just wasn't for me, it was just too fruity for my liking. But I know this would be perfect for people who prefer this type of scent!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Afternoon Tea</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WIP8VkzXCuE/XFCGbbbni-I/AAAAAAAAAsY/gmML8mOHlXoSX1_WEJ0ZKKxcLBod1hkXQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WIP8VkzXCuE/XFCGbbbni-I/AAAAAAAAAsY/gmML8mOHlXoSX1_WEJ0ZKKxcLBod1hkXQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0779.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">Scones, clotted cream and sweet raspberry jam.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was probably the cutest sample I've received, those little hearts and stars that appear after melting are perfect for Valentine's Day. This was a super sweet smell that reminded me so much of Drumstick Lollies, not that that's a bad thing. I really enjoyed this one and it definitely seemed the most Valentine's appropriate one from the collection.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Silver Mountain</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n_o5FAACJnM/XFCEza3wTYI/AAAAAAAAAr4/bUGe1Du40OMUDBZLzfL_GHLxVr0-NB3DQCEwYBhgL/s1600/ACS_0200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n_o5FAACJnM/XFCEza3wTYI/AAAAAAAAAr4/bUGe1Du40OMUDBZLzfL_GHLxVr0-NB3DQCEwYBhgL/s1600/ACS_0200.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">Aftershave inspired with bergamot, mandarin, neroli, green tea and a base of musk and sandalwood.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another fun and pretty one, check out the detail when this burns! This wasn't what I was expecting from an aftershave inspired scent at all. I love musk and sandalwood scents but unfortunately I just didn't pick up on this, it was quite sweet smell and whilst I did like it, I would have preferred it to smell a bit more musky and manly. Not at all a bad one, just not what I was expecting! I have been informed that the aftershave it's based on is not what you'd expect from an aftershave either.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Zen Moment</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MLCWAAkRsHA/XFCGTW9B8SI/AAAAAAAAAsU/VetFtqULtkcxnkxsTMxwSwyTdyE0K0N7gCEwYBhgL/s1600/ACS_0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MLCWAAkRsHA/XFCGTW9B8SI/AAAAAAAAAsU/VetFtqULtkcxnkxsTMxwSwyTdyE0K0N7gCEwYBhgL/s1600/ACS_0199.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">Aloe, lemon and cucumber on top of lily and jasmine.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love everything about this one, from the colour and glitter to the amazing scent. If my whole house could smell like this permanently I'd love it. It's such a fresh and calming scent that's meant to remind you of the spa. This is a great choice for a scent in a bathroom when you're having a super relaxing bath or for when you're having a chilled day indulging in some self care. This is definitely my favourite scent from the collection.<br /><br />Let me know if you like the sound of any of these scents and don't forget, if you make an order pop my code 'laureny.c' in the notes to seller at checkout and you'll receive a freebie with your order.<br /><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-23889514629962152462019-01-29T07:00:00.000+00:002019-01-29T07:00:03.248+00:00The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ysbbnMpdPw/XExP2XKrbeI/AAAAAAAAArM/CbkrW4U4A4YHvX-0NSRV75ozaiV9ibGMwCLcBGAs/s1600/the%2Bcraftsman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton review" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="325" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ysbbnMpdPw/XExP2XKrbeI/AAAAAAAAArM/CbkrW4U4A4YHvX-0NSRV75ozaiV9ibGMwCLcBGAs/s640/the%2Bcraftsman.jpg" title="" width="416" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">Florence Lovelady's career was made when she convicted coffin-maker Larry Glassbrook of a series of child murders 30 years ago. Like something from our worst nightmares the victims were buried...ALIVE.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">Larry confessed to the crimes; it was an open and shut case. But now he's dead, and events from the past start to repeat themselves.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">Did she get it wrong all those years ago?&nbsp;</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">Or is there something much darker at play?</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After my mum gave this book a rave review I decided to make it my next read, I really got into crime novels last year so was excited to sink my teeth into the first one of 2019. The novel starts with Florence Lovelady returning to the Lancashire town where she started her career in the police force. She's attending the funeral of Larry Glassbrook, the convicted child murder whose confession made her career. Since Larry's incarceration there haven't been any more murders and now he's dead it seems like everyone can finally move on but then history starts repeating itself and Florence starts to realise she may have got everything wrong and everything isn't what it seems. We're catapulted back to the 60's to learn how Larry was caught and about the dark goings on of the town before we finally come back to the scene just after Larry's funeral where everything is turned on it's head.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I always try to write my book reviews without spoilers as I feel people should be free to discover the wonderful twists and turns for themselves. This book is so packed with twists and turns though it's making it hard to write about! If I didn't have to work I'd have flown through this book in record time because I was stuggling to put it down, it's absolutely brilliantly written and it's so full of suspense that you just have to keep reading.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I gave this book a solid 5 stars but I do have to raise a few of the points that niggled me a little bit. Let's start with the character names, this may seem like an irrelevant point in the grand scheme of things but for some reason the names really bugged me, they just seemed a bit too on the nose and like the author had tried to match names and personalities too closely. I also thought the ending could have been wrapped up a bit quicker and I can see how some people would find the ending a bit ridiculous in places, I think you really have to suspend disbelief a little with this novel and realise that not only is it a crime novel but an exploration of old English beliefs and the Gothic elements that often shaped peoples beliefs in small rural towns.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I still gave this 5 stars though because I couldn't put it down and I loved how much I kept changing my mind about what was happening and was always left guessing. I also really enjoyed that it wasn't a clear cut crimes novel and had other elements in it.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rating: ★★★★★</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Pin this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xCkrhooKMAw/XExcOb9mTpI/AAAAAAAAArY/2eTVtoBclzcXpFct5zcZspT91TQ3NeTbgCLcBGAs/s1600/the%2Bcraftsman.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xCkrhooKMAw/XExcOb9mTpI/AAAAAAAAArY/2eTVtoBclzcXpFct5zcZspT91TQ3NeTbgCLcBGAs/s640/the%2Bcraftsman.png" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-46268813918015349762019-01-28T16:13:00.000+00:002019-02-10T10:13:39.266+00:006 Things You Can Do To Create A More Pinterest Worthy Interior | AD<span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a contributed post that may contain affiliate links.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/qpB7ovStQ-XG06m9VBKVwZ1xK4xh5q73X7uwAk-mY_-01RSlvXIyN7QTEKa4TTRXW85yEtVBDAicD_PUPmK4mNBgaUwnj_qMeKOmDOwJKbeFOxuL6FZ-oYLtlXSHz_k3W-_F1NbP" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-plants-on-the-table-1005058/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you look at home interior’s on sites like Pinterest and swoon wishing that you lived in a place like them? There are actually some really simple ways you can create a more Pinterest worthy interior - and below, you’ll find 6 of them. Take a look and before you know it, your home might just be getting pinned to decor boards all over the globe. Enjoy!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Choose A Theme</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Start by <a href="https://www.thespruce.com/style-guides-for-home-interiors-1977577" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">choosing a theme</a>, and this will give you more direction when it comes to putting pieces together and deciding where to take your interior. For example, a theme will help you to pick the right colors, accessories, and other decor elements that will pull the whole look together. Check out the following advice to help you:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><ul><li>Choose themes you really love so you don’t get bored in a few months (or even years).</li><li>Don’t be afraid to mix a couple of themes or eras depending on your tastes.&nbsp;</li><li>Don’t try too hard to make your home match an era perfectly or it might look like a movie set rather than a place to live.&nbsp;</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Go Plant Crazy</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Plants look amazing in any home interior, which is why you will see them in pretty much any pinterest post that you look at! They can clear the air, add beautiful greenery to a decor, and bring texture to a space. Add as many as you like, playing with different textures and sizes to create a look that is all your own. Hanging plants and wall plants work just as well as regular potted plants.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Select Beautiful Furniture</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Every Pinterest worthy place should have beautiful furniture. You have plenty of options, such as <a href="https://www.houseofoak.co.uk/" rel="" target="_blank">oak furniture</a>. This type of furniture stands the test of time, and over time actually tends to get more beautiful and full of character. Make sure you pick pieces that you will love for years to come. They should suit your lifestyle too, so think about this if you have kids or pets.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Create A Gallery Wall</span></b>&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">A gallery wall can be designed completely to your tastes, whether you want three uniformed pictures or 10 of completely different sizes and placements. Have fun with it!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Utilize Storage/Shelving&nbsp;</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">You’re going to need storage if you own a lot of stuff, and shelving can be a great option. It can allow you to show off pieces that you don’t want to shut away, without taking up valuable floor space.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Keep It Balanced</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally, <a href="https://freshome.com/2014/09/25/the-psychology-of-achieving-balance-in-interior-design/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">make sure your interior is balanced</a>. Make sure you look at elements such as smooth and texture, heavy and light, color and neutral, old and new, and so on. Having plenty of contrast while ensuring your interior remains balanced is a must. You could go for something perfectly symmetrical, or keep things a little off centre for fun. Make sure the whole room flows nicely, though, as you don’t want the eye to rest in one dominant area.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How will you create your Pinterest worthy interior?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-49759853108258886382019-01-28T07:00:00.000+00:002019-02-02T16:54:41.052+00:00Florida 2018 Day 8: Discovery Cove <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UIujxHKRkyU/XC4tzzAQHUI/AAAAAAAAAnc/44r4aXIqw2UVn76--rcVl6uvHx6JKagnACLcBGAs/s1600/10-26-2018%2B-%2BDiscovery%2BCove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UIujxHKRkyU/XC4tzzAQHUI/AAAAAAAAAnc/44r4aXIqw2UVn76--rcVl6uvHx6JKagnACLcBGAs/s1600/10-26-2018%2B-%2BDiscovery%2BCove.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Welcome to our Florida 2018 vlog series. This trip is the whole reason we started vlogging, so we're so excited to share this content with you. We absolutely love Disney and had the best trip ever so we hope you all enjoy the vlogs!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In this vlog we visit Discovery Cove for the very first time. We're blown away by just how beautiful, relaxing and quiet the park is. We partake in a dolphin swim with a lovely dolphin named Luna and have a super realxing day sipping cocktails and swimming. We hope you enjoy our first experience of Discovery Cove.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RArrJ9qZTJE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RArrJ9qZTJE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Pin this:</span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GLFYK2ib3RE/XFXHBBzV6dI/AAAAAAAAAvU/SGvhsqrDBi4wU3WvkDC596pyGOCFEoW-ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Florida%2BDay%2B8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GLFYK2ib3RE/XFXHBBzV6dI/AAAAAAAAAvU/SGvhsqrDBi4wU3WvkDC596pyGOCFEoW-ACEwYBhgL/s640/Florida%2BDay%2B8.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-37577949624467227442019-01-25T07:00:00.000+00:002019-01-25T07:00:04.312+00:00I'm starting a monthly newsletter!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YlbGxTKJ7uM/XEi1GirED6I/AAAAAAAAAqw/NFRAqVbNA-QYYhQEo7VMMGcCkF-BTCalACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YlbGxTKJ7uM/XEi1GirED6I/AAAAAAAAAqw/NFRAqVbNA-QYYhQEo7VMMGcCkF-BTCalACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0836.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">So I'm starting a monthly newsletter! This is something I've wanted to do for a while now but I've always been a bit scared to take the plunge. Of course I had lots of doubts whizzing around my head, what if no one subscribes? Who'd want to read a newletter from me? So I've put it off for months now, but I've finally taken the plunge and I'd bloody love it if you could join me for a chat once a month!</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">How to subscribe to my monthly newsletter</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well this one is super easy, you see that form in my side bar right below my mugshot? The one that says 'subscribe to my newsletter'? (If you're viewing on mobile. simply select view web version at the bottom of my blog to be able to see my side bar) well pop your email in there and your first name, if you'd like to and hit that subscribe button. It's as easy as that!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">When will you receive the newsletter and what will be in it?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll be sending out a newsletter once a month at the end of each month, it'll be really chatty and friendly and a bit more personal than some of my posts. I'll talk about everything from what book I'm currently reading, any shows I'm loving, any news and a little recap of some of my favourite posts from the month in case you missed them. It'll be a chance to see what's coming on Laureny Loves... over the upcoming new month and hopefully a chance to get to know me better. Unless I have any big news to share you'll only receive one email a month from me, I'll never spam your inbox so don't worry!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Why I've decided to create a newsletter</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I want to get to know you lovely lot that read my blog a lot better, I want to spark conversations and talk about all the things I love (and that you love too). I've blogged for almost 8 years now and I've always just seen it as a hobby, recently though I've been working so hard on my blog and really trying to grow it into something more. As I enter this new stage I'd like to take some like minded friends along with me!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-43696812837185772722019-01-24T07:00:00.000+00:002019-01-24T07:00:04.944+00:00What I'd do with a lottery win<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ibACf6vey8/XEMO4q3xu6I/AAAAAAAAAps/AytozAUHqbsSWt3fVD16vVuABMzDfh6EQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ibACf6vey8/XEMO4q3xu6I/AAAAAAAAAps/AytozAUHqbsSWt3fVD16vVuABMzDfh6EQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5140.JPG" /></a></div>It's a question we've all thought about, 'what would I do if I won the lottery' I mean really with that amount of money, there's endless possibilities so it's always fun to think about what you'd do (aside from the obvious of giving some to family). We all work to be able to afford to do the fun things in life but if suddenly money was no object what would you do?<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Travel</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Before I settled down anywhere I definitely splash some cash on seeing the world. There's so many places out there to see and with money being no object, there'd be nothing stopping me from visiting everywhere I've ever dreamed of visiting. I think I'd probably end up spending a fair amount of time traveling even when I'd settled down. I'd have a base to come back to and the whole world to see! Top of my list would be a road trip around America, going to an elephant sanctuary, going on safari in Africa, visiting every Disney park around the world, somewhere you can see baby turtles hatching, seeing the Northern Lights and a trip around Canada.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Move to Florida</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">There's just no way I'd be sticking around in the U.K, I need warmth and fun and Florida absolutely stole my heart when we first went in 2015. So many of my lottery win plans revolve around this destination that I may as well just live there anyway. I'd buy a beautiful villa with a pool not too far from Disney World! Fun fact, Josh and I seriously talked about moving to Florida and one point but like anything money was one of the many big factors that stopped us from going any further. There'd be no doubt in my mind that this is where I'd be setting up base after a lottery win.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Buy annual passes for all the Florida theme parks</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course Disney World and Universal Resort would be at the top of my list but I'd probably buy other theme park passes too such as Seaworld and Legoland. Lets face it, I wouldn't be working anymore so I may as well spend my days at the happiest place on earth. I don't think I'd ever get bored of visiting the parks, they're constantly changing and there's so many events that it keeps things fresh all the time. Imagine popping out because you fancied a ride on The Haunted Mansion or going for date night at Disney Springs. That sounds like absolute heaven to me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Open a cat sanctuary</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've always wanted to work with animals and even though not having a job anymore would be fantastic, I think I'd still like to do something to keep busy (you know for those occassions where I'm not in a theme park!) I'd love to open a sanctuary for ill and disabled cats that would still have a great quality of life it's just they've got complex needs. I'd like to put my money towards helping animals who might not have been given a chance at life because of high vets bills. I think it would be such an honour to look after the cats that needed a little bit of extra care.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />A quiet life in Florida, going to the theme parks and looking after cats is the absolute dream, now let me just go and buy a lottery ticket!<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Pin this:&nbsp;</span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KrflgFa9P2k/XEMYKOvfmbI/AAAAAAAAAp8/emMKdWlmAl8N2X5F4c74EZQuS3R2rqJfgCEwYBhgL/s1600/what%2BI%2527d%2Bdo%2Bif%2BI%2Bwon%2Bthe%2Blottery.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KrflgFa9P2k/XEMYKOvfmbI/AAAAAAAAAp8/emMKdWlmAl8N2X5F4c74EZQuS3R2rqJfgCEwYBhgL/s640/what%2BI%2527d%2Bdo%2Bif%2BI%2Bwon%2Bthe%2Blottery.png" width="426" /></a></div></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-9575033045586575192019-01-22T07:00:00.000+00:002019-01-22T07:00:06.869+00:007 ways to practice self care with IBS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AYbcPoeWET8/XEMrcjaY3uI/AAAAAAAAAqY/coQQDB3EguML4Us0fEOEODpvktNmpcQoACLcBGAs/s1600/pics%2B078%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1600" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AYbcPoeWET8/XEMrcjaY3uI/AAAAAAAAAqY/coQQDB3EguML4Us0fEOEODpvktNmpcQoACLcBGAs/s1600/pics%2B078%2B%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>Sometimes we all need a break, especially those of us with an invisible illness who feel the pressure to fight through what we're experiencing because we don't show any outward signs on being ill. I'm here to tell you that's rubbish, everyone has the right to take a bit of times to themselves. When you battle pain and fatigue on a regular basis I think it's only fair to pencil in some self care on a regular basis. Here's how I like to catch up on some rest and relaxation, especially after a flare-up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Take a bath</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh god I love baths for absolutely everything. Had a tough day at work? Have a bath. Getting a cold? Have a bath. Just want to unwind with a tonne of bubbles and fancy products? Have a bath. Seriously though, if I'm going through a rough patch with my IBS having a bath really helps. I feel more relaxed and the hot water goes someway to soothing any pain I may be experiencing. I usually find a really hot bath helps so much so (without burning yourself) lay back and relax in as hot a water as is comfortable for you.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Reading</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Getting lost in a good book gives my mind something different to focus on. During a really bad flare up I recommend selecting a book that you love, that your familiar with. One that's a bit like a comfort blanket, it requires very little thinking and a whole lot of comfort and happiness. A familiar book will be easy to slip into which is useful if you're experiencing the brain fog that can come with pain and fatigue.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Get comfortable</span></b><br />Don't feel guilty for taking a day for lounging around in your comfiest clothes or even your pj's. If you're having a tough time, the last thing you need is to be uncomfortable. Find a place that's cosy for you, that may be the sofa, a big chair or even in bed. Do what ever feels the best for you. Surround yourself with pillows, cushions and blankets. A hot water bottle may also be soothing for pains and cramps too, this time is all about doing as little as possible to allow yourself to feel better.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Rest</span></b><br />We're all guilty of pushing ourselves too far and feeling burnt out. With an invisible illness that burnt out feeling can happen much quicker so recognise when it's time for a rest and take it. Running on empty will do nothing apart from make you feel worse and you'll take longer to recover. Give your body the chance to heal itself and build some energy back up. If you really are rundown take a nap, honestly the world isn't going to end because you had an hours sleep on a Saturday afternoon.<br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Surround yourself with everything to feel better</span></b><br />Sometimes when you're in pain and fatigued the brain fog descends and it can be hard to think straight. Maybe create yourself a checklist of all the things you need close to hand that you can refer to when you need it. That way you're not getting up and down constantly and you can really try to rest and relax. Useful things to have close by might be painkillers, any medication you take, a book, a blanket and plenty of water. Make yourself a cuppa (I have a whole post on how herbal teas can help with IBS symptoms) and gather your essentials.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Watch TV</span></b><br />Much like reading a book, you want to be picking easy viewing with this one. Nothing too taxing on the brain. I actually have a whole blog post coming soon with the best TV shows for when you're not feeling well. Something funny is always a good option and chances are you're not going to be feeling too cheery when you're in the midst of a flare-up.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Have fun</span></b><br />This one is more for when you're on the mend but make sure you do something fun. I'd recommend not doing something that requires too much energy at this point but pick something that brings you joy. This could be anything from a pamper day at home, a movie night or even just cooking your favourite meal. Do something that's going to make you happy. After not feeling great, a little pick-me-up can go a long way to helping you feel better.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Pin this:</span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D9k9b23nkAQ/XEMxjZFpd3I/AAAAAAAAAqk/9i0L9PXmzpoMFlC9Y1blNZ8tnLdUaGN8ACLcBGAs/s1600/7%2Bways%2Bself%2Bcare%2BIBS.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D9k9b23nkAQ/XEMxjZFpd3I/AAAAAAAAAqk/9i0L9PXmzpoMFlC9Y1blNZ8tnLdUaGN8ACLcBGAs/s640/7%2Bways%2Bself%2Bcare%2BIBS.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191470576127183868.post-25256689965387731972019-01-21T17:21:00.003+00:002019-01-28T16:23:13.859+00:00Revamp your kitchen as much as possible | AD<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/HU7_p7SDfcsXEsHflVxr2yez8BaWbVtFq58HYEwip07xPf62WUpAeo4eAx5oZlAIrQ9GxJreU42Kl3ES7sWlygqg9QvVkz1Z3jA-zNEQF8Nx2nbHRPkUribiRZ7xB3V4wNDOasr3" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/en/kitchen-home-luxury-kitchen-1336160/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pixabay.com</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are so many excellent areas in the home, and you have to do as much as you can to improve the property and make the most of your home. You want to have somewhere really great to live, but you also want to be able to <a href="https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/20-sure-ways-to-add-value-to-your-home/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">increase the value of the home</a> at the same time as well. Now, there are a number of ways in which you can achieve this, and the most important factor to keep in mind is the different parts of the home that add value. <br /><a name='more'></a>The kitchen has to rank as one of the most important areas of the home, and a place where there is a large scope for improvement. You often hear of people shelling out to revamp their kitchen and make some definite improvements. And the reason for this is the fact that this is such an important part of the property. It is a very sociable area and the place that potential new buyers will likely wind up judging the rest of the property on. Here are some ideas to help you revamp your property as much as you possibly can.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Go Open</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of the best decisions you can make with your kitchen is to change it so that it is more open. This is something that can make a massive difference to the future, and will really create a lot more space and comfort in the room. You can turn the kitchen into the epicentre of the home by doing this, not to mention making it more effective and practical as a result. <a href="https://www.homify.co.uk/ideabooks/5055783/the-open-plan-kitchen-how-to-make-it-work" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Open plan kitchens</a> are popular among modern homeowners, for obvious reasons.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Make Better Use of the Lighting</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">You need to do as much as you can to make full use of the lighting in the home, as this can make a massive difference. There are a lot of ways of making use of natural light in your kitchen, but a couple of the best suggestions would be to have large windows, bright colours, and possibly even use mirrors! There are a lot of things that you can benefit from this, and you can <a href="https://www.georgiaandstanley.com/2018/12/02/how-you-can-use-lighting-to-transform-your-home/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">use natural light to enhance your home</a> as much as possible.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Change Fixtures and Fittings</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Changing the fixtures and fittings in the kitchen is really important for helping you make your kitchen better. There are so many different ways to do this, and it is so important to enhance your kitchen in the right way. If you check out companies like <a href="https://www.tapwarehouse.com/" rel="" target="_blank">Tap Warehouse</a>, you can find some modern and well-designed fittings that can make your kitchen look and feel a lot better. This is something that can have a really positive impact on the kitchen and can set it up as one of the best&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As you can see, there are a lot of things you need to keep in mind when you want to improve the property and take things further forward. The kitchen is one of the key areas of the home, and a place that needs to look as great as possible. There are a lot of things you can do that will help you to make your kitchen better, and this is something that plays a major part in improving the appeal and value of the home.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a contributed post that may contain affiliate links.</span>Laurenhttps://plus.google.com/111017269153674955800noreply@blogger.com0